What causes diarrhea and vomiting in children?

For young children, their stomachs and intestines are relatively weak and easily affected by some external or internal factors, which may cause diarrhea and vomiting. The more common causes are gastroenteritis or bacterial infection. In addition, parasitic infection can also cause diarrhea and vomiting in children. At this time, it is necessary to adjust the condition in time, strengthen treatment, and pay attention to diet and health.

What causes diarrhea and vomiting in children?

1. Gastroenteritis. Gastroenteritis (also called stomach flu) is an inflammation of the stomach and intestines that can cause diarrhea in babies, children, and adults. Gastroenteritis is very common and can be caused by many different viruses. The most common pathogen is rotavirus. Half of the children hospitalized for diarrhea are infected with this virus, which often occurs in late autumn and early winter. If your baby has diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and a low-grade fever, it is likely gastroenteritis. Be aware at this time that your baby may be losing a lot of fluid if he or she is not eating or drinking much.

2. Bacterial infection. Bacterial infection causes severe diarrhea in babies (sometimes accompanied by vomiting), as well as abdominal pain, bloody stools, and fever. Some of these infections are self-healing, but some can be very serious (such as infections caused by E. coli in undercooked meat). Therefore, if your baby has the above symptoms, you should take him to see a doctor. The doctor will examine him and possibly do a stool culture to see if a bacterial infection is causing it.

3. Parasitic infection. Parasitic infections may also cause diarrhea. For example, giardiasis (also called giardiasis) is caused by a microscopic parasite that lives in the intestines. Parasites are easily spread when living in groups and require special medications to treat. Therefore, developing good hygiene habits, such as washing hands after changing diapers, is the best way to stop the spread of parasitic infections.

4. Antibiotics. If your baby develops diarrhea during or after antibiotic treatment, it may be related to the medicine. Talk to your doctor to see if there are other medicines or treatments that might be helpful.

5. Food factors. Too much fruit juice (especially those with sorbitol and high levels of fructose) or too many sugary drinks may also give your baby an upset tummy and loose stools. If you feed your baby less of these foods, the condition should improve in about a week. It is recommended not to give fruit juice to babies under 6 months old. After 6 months, the daily fruit juice intake should not exceed approximately 113~170 ml. In addition, improper preparation of formula milk may also cause diarrhea in babies, so when you prepare the milk, add water in proportion.

6. Milk allergy. Milk allergies are not uncommon, but can also cause diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. If your baby is allergic to cow's milk, he may show symptoms within minutes to hours after drinking cow's milk formula or eating dairy products. If you suspect your baby's diarrhea is related to milk, please consult a doctor for details.

What to do if your child has diarrhea and vomiting

1. Keep your baby calm.

If your baby has diarrhea, you should first calm the baby down and don't let the baby cry out of fear, as this will aggravate the condition. Then distract your baby so that he doesn't feel uncomfortable.

2. Clean your baby's buttocks in time.

The baby's buttocks may become red and painful due to diarrhea. Parents should wash the baby's buttocks in time after the baby has a bowel movement. Try to wash it with warm water and do not rub it hard with paper, as it will hurt the baby. If your butt is very red, you can apply some erythromycin eye ointment after washing and drying it.

3. Give your baby some Mommy Love.

Mommy Love is rich in beneficial bacteria, can effectively care for the baby's intestines, and has a good antidiarrheal effect. Give your baby 1-2 bags of milk every day with warm water at about 40°, which is very helpful in relieving your baby's diarrhea.